Kate's Song by Jennifer Beckstrand Page A

not say anything, Miriam would not be able to find fault with anything that came out of her mouth. But she soon thought better of it. Nathaniel glanced back at the two of them anxiously, and Kate knew it was her responsibility to break the ice.
    “Nathaniel tells me you delivered a baby this week,” Kate said with forced enthusiasm.
    “Jah, Ervin Stoltzfus’s boy.”
    “How much did he weigh?”
    “Seven pounds,” Miriam said, looking out the window.
    Kate persisted. “What did they name him?”
    “Ervin Junior.”
    Nathaniel craned his neck to look at his mamm as if to prompt her into a friendlier conversation. “He is the first boy after five girls.”
    “Oh, what a nice blessing for them,” Kate said. “I am sure they were mighty proud to have a boy yet.”
    Miriam propped her elbow on the arm wrapped around her waist and looked at Kate. “There is nothing wrong with a girl baby.”
    “Oh no, of course not, but after five girls, a boy would be a nice surprise.” She glanced at Miriam for any kind of response. She didn’t get one. “My sister-in-law Ada has five boys. I know she would look on a baby girl as a true blessing.”
    Miriam said nothing—simply went back to staring out the window. Getting Miriam to say more than three words at a time proved much like pulling teeth.
    Nathaniel cleared his throat. “Tell Kate about the Miller twins, Mamm.”
    “She does not want to hear about the Miller twins.”
    “Oh, jah, I would love to.”
    Miriam turned herself so she could look at Kate straight on. “I want to hear of your time at the academy.”
    The heat traveled up Kate’s face.
    “How do you pay for tuition?”
    “The professor got me a job at a bakery in the mornings, and I taught voice lessons in the afternoon to kids from some local high schools. Plus I was awarded two grants, one scholarship, and a student loan.”
    “You’re rich,” Dr. Delange said from the driver’s seat.
    “Were you in any plays?” Miriam persisted.
    “Operas. And concerts.”
    “How did they have you dress? Like as not, you weren’t in Amish clothes,” Miriam said.
    “For both operas, I dressed as a nun. Once a French nun and once an Italian nun.”
    Miriam’s eyes narrowed. “Surely you did not always perform as a nun.”
    Nathaniel glanced uncomfortably at his mother then fixed his eyes on Kate.
    “Nae,” Kate said. “For auditions or recitals I borrowed formal dresses from my professor or one of the other girls at the academy.”
    Miriam turned to face forward, as if she were finished with the conversation. “Huh,” she grunted. “I never cotton to such vanity.”
    She folded her arms, leaned her head against the window, and closed her eyes, blocking any further attempts at conversation. The gesture did not escape Nathaniel’s notice. His attempt at a reassuring smile came out more like a wince, and he tried persistently to include Kate in his conversation about fly-fishing for the rest of the trip.
    The doctor dropped them off on a central street corner in La Crosse in the rising heat. Kate pulled a slip of paper from her pocket and got her bearings.
    “Do you know where you are going, Kate?” Nathaniel said.
    “Jah. Directions to the music shop are clear enough.”
    “We will come with you. Then we can go to the distributor and Mamm’s stops after.”
    Kate shook her head. “I know you are pressed for time. I will go and meet you here at noon.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “After strolling down Kilbourn Avenue in Milwaukee, I can walk anywhere by myself.”
    Nathaniel grew a concerned look. “Is that a dangerous place?”
    She smiled. “I’ve never encountered any sort of trouble on the streets of Milwaukee. I’ll be fine.”
    “I know you will.” Nathaniel gave her one last glance before taking his mother by the arm and disappearing down the street.
    Kate wandered the other way, directions in hand, looking for the little music store Dr. Sumsion instructed her to find. Her professor had